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Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to our Frequently Asked Questions Page. Here you will find some of the answers to your questions.

If you have any other queries not covered here, please feel free to call us.

Paternity and other biological relationship DNA tests

How accurate is the test?

If a man is confirmed as the biological father, the likelihood of paternity is reported as 99.99% or greater. If he does not share the same genetic material as the child, the likelihood of paternity is 0%.

Would a DNA sample other than the swabs (hair, blood) be more accurate?

Cheek swabs are considered the most reliable and convenient method of sampling DNA. In cases where it is not possible to use a swab, we will accept alternative samples, though we cannot guarantee a successful result with these samples. Because of this uncertainty, we will initially carry out a viability test to ascertain if there is enough DNA present. If this is successful, you can progress to a standard DNA Test. Please note that the viability test carries an additional charge. You can contact us for more details.

Do I need both the mother’s and the father’s samples to do a paternity test?

The test price includes testing the mother’s sample, but we do not absolutely require her sample if she does not wish to participate, or is unavailable for testing.

Do I need someone’s consent to take their DNA sample?

Yes. All participants must sign the submission form when taking a DNA sample. Children under the age of 16 must have a guardian provide written consent on their behalf.

Can I order a DNA sampling kit from a country other than Ireland? (Europe/America/ Australia)

Yes, but you would have to cover the courier fees yourself if necessary. The additional fee must be paid up front when making your order.

Is the packaging of the test kit discrete?

Yes, the kit is delivered in a flat A5 envelope with no company markings on the exterior. It is completely confidential.

What if I don’t want to take my samples at the same time/place as the other person?

In cases where two parties are unknown to another, or unable to take the test at the same location, it is possible to send separate kits to two different addresses. If this is required, please contact us to ensure that the kit is split.

Do I need to send my sample back straight away?

No, once dried, the samples will last for a very long time.

What test should I do if I want to change the name on a birth certificate/ apply for a visa?

You would need to do a court admissible test.

For how long do you store information about a case?

Hard copies of documents are stored in a secure facility for up to 5 years. Soft copies of reports may be available beyond 5 years.

I am adopted. Can you use my DNA to find my biological parents?

Unfortunately, we can only confirm a suspected relationship between two people using their respective samples. We cannot identify a person’s parent using only their own DNA.

Ancestry

Can you determine my ethnicity with this test?

We can only identify the haplogroup that your ancestors belonged to. This test does not provide information about a person’s ethnicity.

Can you tell me which countries/ counties in Ireland my ancestors came from?

Our ancestry tests cannot provide detailed information about the specific countries or Irish counties that you ancestors may have originated from. At most, we can provide you with an indication of the cultural regions that your ancient ancestors may originate from.

Why can only males take the Paternal/Dual Lineage Tests?

The Paternal Lineage test examines the Y chromosomal DNA that is passed on from father to son. As females inherit only the X chromosome from both parents, they are unfortunately exempt from this test. Females can access this information by testing a male relative, such as a brother, father or paternal uncle.

What if I am female and would like to research my paternal lineage?

If you are female, but would like to have a paternal lineage test done, you could have your father or a male sibling submit samples on your behalf. Please note that they would have their names rather than yours on the results.

Can I trace my ancestors back to 300 years ago?

Our ancestry tests provide information about the ancient origins of your family line up to tens of thousands of years ago. However, we cannot provide information about your lineage from the last few hundred years.

Can I upload my ancestry results onto an online database and connect with potential relations?

Mitosearch is a public access online database of mtDNA sequences where you can find matches and potential relatives. http://www.mitosearch.org/

Ysearch is a public access database of Y-STR profiles where you can find matches and potential relatives. http://www.ysearch.org/

Animal DNA Testing

Can I confirm paternity of an animal without using the sire’s sample?

We would need either a blood or hair sample from the sire as well as at least one of his offspring to perform a paternity test. This applies to all species.

If I submit several samples for my calves/lambs and their potential mothers can you identify which offspring came from which mother?

We can only confirm or exclude the relationship between a suspected mother and offspring pair tested against each other.